February 2023

Protecting the feet against the possibility of a broken foot or fracture ought to be an important goal for everyone who is serious about maintaining good foot health. The bones in the foot can break, or fracture, for a variety of reasons. One potentially overlooked way in which the foot can fracture is from a dog bite. When a dog bites a human’s foot, their strong teeth can inflict a significant amount of damage. If the dog is older, this might also lead to a more severe injury. A broken foot bone, as well as a broken leg, are often common injuries caused by dog bites. If you have recently suffered a dog bite on the foot, it is suggested that you seek out immediate health attention. Seeing a podiatrist will help you prevent infection and treat the fracture. It is suggested that you contact this health professional today.

A broken foot requires immediate medical attention and treatment. If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. Mark Spier from Maryland. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Broken Foot Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

A broken foot is caused by one of the bones in the foot typically breaking when bended, crushed, or stretched beyond its natural capabilities. Usually the location of the fracture indicates how the break occurred, whether it was through an object, fall, or any other type of injury. 

Common Symptoms of Broken Feet:

• Bruising
• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Blue in color
• Numbness
• Cold
• Misshapen
• Cuts
• Deformities

Those that suspect they have a broken foot shoot seek urgent medical attention where a medical professional could diagnose the severity.

Treatment for broken bones varies depending on the cause, severity and location. Some will require the use of splints, casts or crutches while others could even involve surgery to repair the broken bones. Personal care includes the use of ice and keeping the foot stabilized and elevated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Columbia and Reisterstown, MD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Pain always immediately occurs with a broken ankle. Despite the intense pain, a broken ankle is rarely life-threatening. It can happen from falling, or from suddenly twisting the ankle. Additional symptoms can include bruising, swelling, and in severe cases, the bone may protrude.  Prior to receiving the right treatment, an X-ray is generally taken which can determine the severity of the fracture. Mildly broken ankles are treated by wearing a walking boot or a cast, and it can help to frequently elevate the foot. A full recovery may take up to several weeks, and stretches and exercises can be performed when the cast or boot is no longer needed. The affected foot often needs to be strengthened, and a podiatrist can offer to follow up treatment strategies. If you have broken your ankle, it is strongly advised that you are under the care of this type of doctor who can treat broken ankles, and monitor your recovery progress.

Broken ankles need immediate treatment. If you are seeking treatment, contact Dr. Mark Spier from Maryland. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet. 

Broken Ankles
A broken ankle is experienced when a person fractures their tibia or fibula in the lower leg and ankle area. Both of these bones are attached at the bottom of the leg and combine to form what we know to be our ankle.

When a physician is referring to a break of the ankle, he or she is usually referring to a break in the area where the tibia and fibula are joined to create our ankle joint. Ankles are more prone to fractures because the ankle is an area that suffers a lot of pressure and stress. There are some obvious signs when a person experiences a fractured ankle, and the following symptoms may be present.

Symptoms of a Fractured Ankle

• Excessive pain when the area is touched or when any pressure is placed on the ankle
•  Swelling around the area
•  Bruising of the area
• Area appears to be deformed

If you suspect an ankle fracture, it is recommended to seek treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you have your podiatrist diagnose the fracture, the quicker you’ll be on the way towards recovery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Columbia and Reisterstown, MD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Blisters are fluid-filled bubbles that can form on the toes, soles, or heels of your feet when they rub against the inside of a firm or tight-fitting shoe. The blister itself is nature’s way of protecting the skin from this friction by separating the layers from each other. Blisters frequently form when you walk too far in shoes that do not fit properly or by not wearing socks. Most blisters will heal on their own after a few days of resting the site and avoiding the condition that caused them. Covering the blister with a protective bandage can also help. It is not recommended to pop a blister, which may invite infection. Signs of infection include pus, hot or painful skin around the blister, and red streaks around it. Another sign of infection is when the fluid that fills a blister is bloody or changes color. If you notice any of these symptoms, the time has come to visit a podiatrist who can properly cleanse the site and afford safe treatment options. 

Blisters may appear as a single bubble or in a cluster. They can cause a lot of pain and may be filled with pus, blood, or watery serum. If your feet are hurting, contact Dr. Mark Spier of Maryland. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Foot Blisters

Foot blisters are often the result of friction. This happens due to the constant rubbing from shoes, which can lead to pain.

What Are Foot Blisters?

A foot blister is a small fluid-filled pocket that forms on the upper-most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid and can lead to blood drainage or pus if the area becomes infected.

Symptoms

(Blister symptoms may vary depending on what is causing them)

• Bubble of skin filled with fluid
• Redness
• Moderate to severe pain
• Itching

Prevention & Treatment

In order to prevent blisters, you should be sure to wear comfortable shoes with socks that cushion your feet and absorb sweat. Breaking a blister open may increase your chances of developing an infection. However, if your blister breaks, you should wash the area with soap and water immediately and then apply a bandage to the affected area. If your blisters cause severe pain it is important that you call your podiatrist right away.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Columbia and Reisterstown, MD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

The feet have a total of 250,000 sweat glands. This vast collection can produce about a cup of sweat each day, more per square inch than any other body part. The feet contain eccrine sweat glands, which are designed to cool down the body. These consist mostly of salt and water and do not produce foot odor. Bacteria, which thrives in moist, warm environments such as sweaty feet enclosed in socks and shoes, does produce foul odors. Many types of bacteria live on the feet and interact with the sweat produced. Through a complex process involving the bacteria, the sweat glands, and the byproducts of those glands, foot odor is produced. The type of odor depends on which type of bacteria is present and thriving. Fortunately, there are a number of remedies and lifestyle changes available that can reduce the problem of extreme foot odor. For more information on how to handle this annoying problem, please consult a podiatrist. 

Everyday foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked, contact Dr. Mark Spier from Maryland. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Everyday Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. Without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks.

It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before. For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops. Wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent Athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Columbia and Reisterstown, MD . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.